Igniter and lamp plug



June 21, 1949.

Filed Feb. 20, 1948 A. J. KROLL ET AL 2,473,890

IGNITER AND LAMP PLUG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 4 mnwwm 4 INVENTORS ALFRED KROLL. ARTHUR wscwmcrq June 21, 1949. A. J. KROLL ETAL 2,473,890

I KIGNI-TER AND LAMP PLUG 7 Filed Feb. 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTORS ALFRED J. KRou. BY ARTHUR WscHmcK @QRNEY Patented June 21, 1949 UNITE- D S' TAT ES "OFF-TI C E IGNIT-ER AND LAMP PLUG Alfred J. Kroll, .Forestville, and Arthur Schnick, Meriden, Conn., assignorstoThe -fluno Engineering Corporation, Meriden, Conn., a. corporation of Connecticut ApplicationFebruary 20, I948, Se1-'ial.No.19;7,56

7 Claims.

My invention relates to. lighters especially intended for use on motor vehicles "for lighting cigars, cigarettes and pipes and also serving for illumination.

It is intended particularly for use in sockets such as shown and described in application Serial Number 686,188, filed July 26, 1945. The plug in such a device has an igniter element and is removably mounted in a stationary socket which has an outer grounded circuit terminal and an inner circuit terminal and the plug when inserted may be held normally stationary in an open circuit position or pushed further in to close a circuit and energize the igniter coil. Such plugs may be automatically latched in closed circuit position and automatically released when ready for use or held. manually in closed circuit position and removed when desired for use.

My present invention relates to plugs of this character which are also provided with electric light bulbs .suitable for reading in a car.

The main object is .to provide a simple, compact form of construction which can be usedin an ordinary socket interchangeably withplugs of the usual non-illuminating type.

An important object. is to make the plug prim cipally of metal and eliminate the use .of molded insulation in the plug 'body.

I accordingly .provide a plug having two relatively rotatable parts, one part having an igniter element at its outer endand the other part having a rotatable .lamp .bulb and knob at the other end. These two parts are provided with internal switch contacts connected respectively between the igniter element and .a socket terminal and between a terminal of thelamp bulb and an igniter terminal .so that when the .plug is inserted in a socket in closed circuit position, the igniter coil and lamp filament are-either in series or the lamp filament .is short circuited depending upon the relative rotation of theknoband bulb with respect to the igniter element.

In the first-case, thelamp will be lighted because of the difference .in resistance between the igniter coil and filament and in thesecondcase the igniter only will beenergized.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinalside and sectional View of one form ofplug involving theinvention with the parts inposition for ignition.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the switch contactsin the position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is .a viewsimilar to Fig. 1 but with the parts inposition iorusing the lamp.

Fig.4 is a crosssectional view showing the switch contacts'in the position of Fig. 3.

Fig.5 is "across sectional view taken on the plane ofthe lineE-Sfin-Fig. 3.

i 6-is1a side-view and section-of the outer sleeve.

Fig. Tis a face. viewer the insulating abutment washer "for the sleeve ot-Fig. ;6.

:Fig. 8 is a side view andsection of one of the switchicontacts.

"Fig.9 -is=an end *view'of the contact "of Fig. 8.

10-is;a side "view-and longitudinal section ofthe lamp socket and its switch contact extension.

"Figfill is an end-viewof thesame.

Fig. '12 is aa side view-andsectionof the center contact.

;Fig. '13-is-an-end view-of the contact of Fig. 12.

'Fig.'14 isa face view-of one of the centering washers.

Fig. l'fi is-aface --view of another centering washer.

Fig. 16 isa-faceview ofza'bushing.

- Fig.,=17 is a "diagragrn'o'f' the circuit connections with the lamp in series 'with' the igniter coil.

In the form-shown;='the plug; has a'conventional igniter element havinga resistance coil in enclosed "in a circuitterminal oup 'H and. "having a central stud lz' -insulated from the cup. The flange 'or *rim 'o'f the cup-"is adapted to engage the hot contact --of-'a supporting socket when the plug is-inserted -sufficiently. This may be a thermostatic "IQtChOFa simple contact.

The-main router metallic sleeve I3 has a pcripheral circuit terminal I4 adapted to engage the inner-wall of the socket (not shown) when the plug is insertedsufficiently. This sleeve is insulated by-a-washer from the igniter cup. The switch contact i6 is 'of'cup-like form of elongated cross section 'and -mechanically and electrically connected *to the center stud ill of theigniter element -butelectrically insulated from sleeve l3.

The outei ring 1"! in-the 'usual socket and has an *outer "flange-l 8 serving as a stop and an innercurled' flangerilB. The insulating abutment washer 2il=is secured-on theilugs' zl at-the end of sleeve-l3. The Spring'ilis compressed between flange l9 and washer 20 for retractingthe plug. RingFl-has-a*number-of lugs I 1 (see 'Figs. 1 and 3) serving t-o spacethe principal-part of the ring from the flange-11 i.

The lampbulb- =2 3- is Y ofthe 'usualtype having an outer sleeve terminal 24-and a-center terminal 25. A tubulanmem'benifi '(seeFigs. 10 and 11) serves at one-end'as a;socket-*-for-.ithe*ilamp bulb and is surrounded-by="a-bushing 21 onto-which the knob 28 is screwed. The other end 29 of this member serves as an outer switch contact and is indented at 29 so as to engage switch contact Hi When the lamp is to be cut out.

The center switch contact 30 is of cup-like form but of elongated cross-section (see Figs. 12 and 13). This has a flange BI and is positioned in the insulating washers 32 and 33 so that they will rotate together. One washer 33 is shaped with respect to the inside of the tubular member 29, and the other washer 32 is shaped to fit into tubular member 29, but shaped to allow clearance for two ears [3 bent in on member I3.

These washers 32 and 33 fit upon and support the inner contact cup 30 and tie the rotating movements of the inner contact cup 35! and tubular m mber 2Q together, so that when the tubular member 29 is rotated 90 the inner contact cup will also be rotated 90. The two cars H! on member 53 fit into the slots 29" in member 29 which limits the angle of rotation. Spring 34 connects contact 36] to the lamp contact 25.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the plug is inserted in a socket, the circuit will be from cup ll, coil l0, stud l2, switch contact it, tubular switch contact mem-- ber 29, socket 26, ring 21, sleeve l3 to ground terminal rim I l thus heating the resistance coil.

By rotating the knob and attached parts with respect to the igniter and attached parts contact 28 will be disconnected from contact It so that they are related as in Figs. 3 and i, the igniter and lamp will be in series and the lamp will be lighted, the circuit being from cup H to coil ll), stud i2, switch contact It, contact 3%, spring 34, lamp contact 25, filament of 23, base contact sleeve 24, socket 28, ring 21, sleeve 13 and ground terminal [4.

The parts are so constructed and arranged that when the lamp has been ignited the plug may be readily turned so as to direct the beam of light in various directions. When the plug is released, the spring 22 will retract the igniter element so as to break the circuit in the usual way.

If the plu is held by thermostatic latches they will release the plug when they get hot enough to retract them from the igniter cup.

In case the switch parts were left with the lamp and igniter in the series position, the lamp will light up when the plug is again pushed into the socket and the operator will thus be notified that he must rotate the knob if he wishes to use the igniter.

Fig. 17 is a diagram of the circuit when the plug is in a socket having terminals 36 and 3'! engaged by the plug terminals II and M, respectively, and the plug is in position so that the igniter coil 18 is in series with the lamp filament 23. By rotating the plug counterclockwise with its switch contacts 2t and 30, the contact 30 of the knob part is disconnected from contact it of the igniter element so as to cut out the lamp, and the switch contact 29, which is always in contact with the sleeve contact I3, engages contact I6 thus reclosing the circuit through the igniter coil and putting the plug in condition for use as an igniter.

We claim:

1. A combined igniter and lamp plug for use in a supporting socket and having a front portion with an igniter element on one end and a rear portion with a knob and lamp on the opposite end, said rear portion being rotatable through approximately 90 with respect to the front portion, said front portion having contact terminals for engaging terminals in the supporting socket and 4 switching means contained in the plug comprising switch contacts carried by the front portion and coacting switch contacts carried by the rear portion for short circuiting said lamp when the knob and lamp portion is turned in the socket with respect to the igniter element portion.

2. A lighter plug for use in a socket having an outer terminal contact sleeve and a central terminal contact comprising an igniter element having a coil with a contact at its outer end for engaging the central terminal contact of such a socket, a first switch contact connected to the inner end of the igniter coil, a knob rotatable with respect to said igniter element containing a lamp bulb havlilg two terminals, one of which lamp terminals has a switch contact to be connected to said first switch contact, an outer contact terminal adapted to engage the outer terminal contact sleeve when the plug is inserted into one position in said socket and a second switch contact connected to the other lamp terminal and to said outer central termi nal and rotatable with the knob.

3. A combined igniter and lamp plug for use in an electri socket having outer and inner contacts, an outer cylindrical metal sleeve having a peripheral circuit terminal contact, an igniter element mounted on one end of said sleeve, but insulated therefrom, said element having a resistance coil with an outer circuit terminal contact and a central terminal, a switch member connected to said central terminal and extending within said outer sleeve, a contact sleeve rotatable in said outer sleeve and having a lamp socket on one end, a central lamp terminal supported by said contact sleeve within said switch member and constituting a switch contact and a hollow knob secured to said contact sleeve for enclosing a lamp bulb, said central lamp termina1 and said contact sleeve being rotatable with respect to said outer sleeve and the attached parts.

4. A combined igniter and lamp plug for use in an electric socket having outer and inner contacts, an outer cylindrical metal sleeve having a peripheral circuit terminal contact, an igniter element mounted on one end of said sleeve but insulated therefrom, said element having a resistance coil with an outer circuit terminal contact and a central terminal, a cup-like switch member of elongated cross-section connected to said central terminal and extending parallel with said outer sleeve, a contact sleeve rotatable in said outer sleeve and having a lamp socket on one end, a cup-like lamp terminal supported within said switch member and constituting a switch contact and a hollow knob secured to said contact sleeve for enclosing a lamp bulb, said knob, said lamp terminal and said contact sleeve being rotatable with respect to said outer sleeve and the attached parts.

5. A combined igniter and lamp plug comprising an igniter coil having a circuit terminal at one end for engagement with a live contact in socket and a switch contact connected to the other end of the coil, an outer terminal shell mechanically fixed to the circuit terminal but insulated therefrom, a rotatable tubular member having a lamp socket and a lamp at its outer end and a switch contact at its inner end within said terminal shell and adapted to be rotated into and out of engagement with the switch contact that is connected to the igniter coil, a central switch contact carried by and rotatable with said tubular member and connected to a lamp contact and a knob partially enclosing said lamp and constituting means for rotating said tubular member and the switch contacts carried thereby.

6. A combined igniter and lamp plug formed of two relatively rotatable parts, the first part comprising an igniter element with a contact at one end for engaging a live terminal of a socket and a central stud, a switch member electrically connected to said stud and an outer carrier sleeve surrounding said switch member and having a peripheral contact for engaging a. ground terminal in a socket, said carrier sleeve being insulated from said igniter element, the other part of the plug comprising a metallic tubular member rotatable in said outer carrier sleeve and in electrical connection with said sleeve, one end of said tubular member constituting a lamp socket and the other end constituting a switch member engageable with the switch member of the first part of the plug, a central switch contact centered in said tubular member and rotatable therewith and engageable with the switch member of the first part, a center contact connected to said central switch contact for engagement with the enter contact of a lamp held in said socket and a knob connected to said tubular member for rotating said second part with respect to the first part.

7. A combination igniter and lamp plug comprising an igniter unit having a central stud, two tubular extensions secured to said stud, on inside the other, the inner extension constituting a switch member electrically connected to said igniter stud and the outer extension having a sleeve portion with a contact rim adjacent the igniter unit for grounding in a supporting socket, a tubular member having a switch contact portion at one end rotatable about said switch member within said sleeve portion, the other end of said tubular member constituting a lamp socket, a lamp bulb in said socket having a center contact connected to the first-mentioned switch member, a knob secured to said tubular member and housing said lamp bulb and an outer springpressed ring slidably mounted on said outer sleeve for mounting in a supporting socket.

ALFRED J. KROLL.

ARTHUR W. .SCHNICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,144,376 Johnson Jan. 17, 1939 2,220,607 Mays Nov. 15, 1940 2,260,588 Smith Oct, 28, 1941 2,419,950 Johnson May 6, 1947 

